After reading all of the summer reading books, I would have to say that my favorite was All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. It dealt with the classic theme of the American Dream and how the main character strived to achieve the dream, but never actually received it. The rise and fall of Willie Stark was really entertaining and I couldn't help thinking that this is probably what real politicians go through. I never realized what went through a politicians head until I read through Jack Burden's eyes and read Willie's experiences: whether to work for the sake of goodness or work for the sake of money, all the affairs involved, and how politics can change one's life.
I thought it was interesting that Willie started off as a country boy and had the best intentions at heart when he first started running for politics. Willie's need to do good shows a side of the American Dream that most people start off looking to do. Once he received more experience, Wille began to change into the business-type; wearing a white suit and tie, but still hanging on to his past with his old felt hat. He strives to do good, wants to build a hospital for anyone to be able to use and not have to pay anything. He seeks the perfect doctor that also has the ambition of working purely for the goodness of it: Adam Stanton. The fall of Willie begins when he gives into Gummy Larson's offer to help him with the hospital plans, involving reasons not purely for the goodness of it. Even though Willie tries to take back his agreement with Larson, he never gets to because of his tragic death, thus leading to his intangibility of the American Dream.
Some people view the American Dream as working hard in order to make a lot of money, to own the best of things. I think Robert Penn Warren showed both of the sides of the American Dream through Willie Stark. He started off working for the goodness of it, then he fell into the trap of wanting to have the fame and fortune.
After reading the book, I had several questions. Was Willie really a "good" man? Willie's wife said she was forced to think that Willie was a good man. Did Willie do all he wanted to do during his term as governor? Will his legacy live on after he is dead and Larson is the replaced governor? What was the role of Jack in the story? I look forward to discussing this in class!!
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